French TV Channel CANAL+ Acquires IROKO TV’s ROK Studios

Popular Nollywood ROK has been acquired by French audiovisual group CANAL+.

CANAL+ acquired the African film studio and international TV network, including its production, content distribution and publishing channels.

As part of the transaction, IROKO Ltd will also take full control of the JV IROKO+. The move comes as CANAL+ Group looks to strengthen its content production reach in Nigeria and across Africa.

Founder, Mary Njoku, will continue in a leadership role as Directeur General of ROK Productions SAS, and maintains a material shareholding in the company.

ROK will produce thousands of more hours of Nollywood content to deliver movies and original TV series for CANAL+ Group’s audiences in FSA. CANAL+ Group will continue to collaborate with IROKO Ltd, with non-exclusive content distribution of ROK content via the IROKOtv SVOD app.

Speaking on the acquisition, Mary Njoku says:

ROK has captured the imagination of millions of movie fans, and they have truly supported us as we’ve grown the company to celebrate and enjoy our African culture. I’m excited to be taking our platform on the next stage of its journey with CANAL+ Group, who share our passion for creating original content, supporting new talent and together, we have ambitious plans for the future.

Jacques du PUY, CEO of CANAL+ International says:

Through this acquisition CANAL+ Group is very happy to develop and enhance the catalogue of Nollywood contents and expand the ROK brand inside and outside the African continent.

ROK was incubated from 2013 onwards, by IROKO Ltd, an African digital distributor for Nollywood content.

Its flagship platform IROKOtv has transformed how Nollywood content is accessed and consumed around the world.